it's definitely a refinish, difficult to tell if it's factory without seeing under the guard etc.
you could get a mid 60s duo-sonic II for £6-700 if you keep your eyes peeled. having owned a few 60s and 70s fenders they're definitely the most bang for your buck in terms of what you're getting. if for some reason i was only allowed to own one guitar for the rest of my life it would be my duo II.
bit on the dear side for a '68, but i've seen worse.
Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 12:44 pm
by NickD
Tthere should be something in your price range - I've got a '65 Musicmaster, refin body and a Duo Sonic scratchguard and hardware, and a 73 Mustang that is probably a refin. Granted I bought them a few years ago, but the MM was well under your price range and the Mustang in the middle of it.
There are plenty out there if you don't mind slightly less than 100% originality
Posted: Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:39 pm
by MMPicker
I have a 1965 Fender Musicmaster II , 24" scale "B" neck.
This is probably one of the most economical good choices. But for it to be "good' for you, you have to like its 24" scale length.
They also came with an "A" neck, and 22-1/2" scale so watch out.
The Musicmaster II is routed underneath for the Duosonic II/ Mustang wiring, so one can easily add a second pickup if desired.
The original neck pickup on my guitar sounds incredible, much like a mid-60s strat.
Mine had been previously butchered for humbuckers under the pickguard, had a crappy amateur refinish (looks decent from a distance, fortunately), and the original numbered neckplate stolen, so I got it for a song. That was a long time ago though.
Pre-64 Musicmasters (which were not IIs) all had the yet-smaller neck and/or narrower nut width I believe.
And IIRC some later Musicmaster variants were not routed underneath for the extra pickup.
Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2011 9:04 pm
by Will
I visited Guitar Center Hollywood this past weekend and the best vintage guitar in the store was a Squier Classic Vibe.